- XR Update #6 – A New Phase Begins Archived Message
Posted by Ian M
on April 22, 2019, 8:57 pm
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Looks like Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Oxford Circus have been cleared / voluntarily abandoned. A woman, apparently not part of the protest, was violently shoved to the ground at Oxf C, cop caught on camera: https://www.facebook.com/ReelNews/videos/380493536127872/ will hopefully face some disciplinary procedure (don't hold your breath) and other protestors were removed with excessive force: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/moment-police-drag-extinction-rebellion-protesters-along-the-ground-at-oxford-circus-a4122411.html Hopefully that will educate some of the more naive folks in the movement who thought the police were on our side... Marble Arch remains, strengthened by rebels from the other sites and with various events and happenings lined up. Pics, links, in depth reports from each site & international news at the link as ever. cheers, I ***** https://rebellion.earth/2019/04/22/update-6-a-new-phase-begins/ Update #6 – A New Phase Begins April 22, 2019 by Newsletter team Days 6 and 7 of International Rebellion (Sat 20 – Sun 21 Apr) As spring now spreads its (record-breaking) warmth across the global north, London’s International Rebellion is entering a new phase of its own. After leaving four of five locations in good order, rebels will meet at Marble Arch on Monday to decide where they go next. Being Easter, it’s a time for renewal and rebirth. The past few days have brought their share of sadness, as we’ve left behind spaces so lovingly cultivated and so bravely defended, each with its own story and style: the serene Parliament Square, the giddy Piccadilly, the joyous Oxford Circus and, the flourishing garden bridge. These spaces were amazing creations – but let us not forget: we came here to transform not London, but the world. ‘Phase One’ has been a huge success. Holding the locations brought enormous attention to our cause: from press to politicians to punters. As all of these examples show, we’ve succeeded in getting our message across – even to our critics. This success can be expressed in numbers: at the most conservative estimate we’ve welcomed 30,000 new members, and have received almost £300,000 in crowdfunding, the great majority of donations being around of £10. And if it’s a metric you’re into, we’ve had almost 1,000 brave people arrested. But our deeper success is something past the quantitative: the innumerable moments of love, empowerment and belonging fostered in and between our lovely London spaces; car-streaked streets converted to oases of calm; friendships made and strengthened in a common struggle; and the international solidarity brought about by acting in unison with brothers and sisters all over the planet. And that’s just Phase One. Where we go with Phase Two is up to us. A proposal has been circulated for entering a “negotiations” phase. Despite being presented otherwise in the media, this idea remains only a proposal – and is entirely subject to the feedback and consideration of the countless members who’ve done so much to get us to where we are now. The primary forum for this feedback will be a people’s assembly held on Monday between 3pm and 5pm at Marble Arch. There will be food after this. If you’d like to understand more about how the decision process looks as things stand, please watch this short video. As XR UK begins a moment of reflection (however long or short!), rebellions across the world continue to thrive. To give just a taste: we’ve seen a disco in Denver, glue-ons in Chicago, the exciting arrival of XR Pakistan and XR Austria, and outreach events in Uganda and Ghana. Like in London, XR Australia has also made space to take stock, and XR New Zealand remains as subversively/submersively creative as ever. Before any other news, we would first like to pay our sincere condolences and respects to the family and friends of Polly Higgins, who recently passed away. Our cause is her cause. She remains an inspiration to us all. The newsletter team [continues ...] |